Grappling-tool



L..SCARBROUGH. GRAPPLING TOOL. AP'PLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1919.

1,340,083. Patented May 11,1920.

INI/ENTOR.

lei/1' 604mm 9 H mm #41 ATTORNEI J LEVI SCARBROUGH, OF WELDON, ILLINOIS.

GRAPPLING-TOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1920.

Application filed July 17, 1919. Serial No. 311,449.

To all 10710771 it may concern Be it known that I, LEVI SOARBROUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Veldon, in the county of Dewitt and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Grappling-Tools, of which. the following is a specification.

The tool which is the subject matter of the present application for patent has been designed more particularly for pulling up well tubing or pipes, although it is not limited to such use, and may be employed for gripping other objects to be elevated or otherwise handled.

The invention has for its object to provide a grapple which will securely hold the article to which it is attached, and which will not allow the same to slip, the parts being so constructed and arranged that the greater the pull on the article the tighter will be the grip of the tool thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grappling tool which is simple in construction, and strong and durable, and which can be readily attached to or removed from the part to be elevated or otherwise handled.

With the objects stated in view, the invention consists in a novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that the same may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tool;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of one of the jaws.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the shank of the tool is a stout metal bar having a lateral bend 5 intermediate its ends which offsets the lower end 6 of the bar laterally from the upper portion 7 thereof. The bottom of the part 6 carries a yoke 8 which is horizontal and has upward bends 9 at the extremities of its branches. The yoke is riveted or otherwise securely fastened at its bight to the ofiset portion 6 of the shank, as shown at 10, and to assist in holding the yoke firmly in place on the shank, the lower extremity of the latter has a lateral bend 11 forming a seat on which the bight of the yoke rests.

The bends 9 are opposite and spaced apart, and to each is pivoted a jaw member 12 having a curved, serrated gripping surface 13 which is eccentric to the pivot, the latter being a bolt or other suitable element 14. A. spring 15 is connected at its ends to the two jaw members and looped around the bend 5, where it is held by a hook 16 carried by the latter. This spring tends to rotate the jaw members in a direction to carry thev serrated gripping surfaces 13 downward and toward each other. The downward swing of the jaw members is limited by the inner sides of the bends 9, the

same being in the path of the widened outer portion of the aw members having the gripping surface 13.

In operation, the tool is positioned and manipulated to locate the well tube or pipe 17 between the jaw members 12 so that the gripping surfaces 13 thereof engage the tube on opposite sides. The rearward offset relation of the lower portion 6 of the shank of the tool with respect to the upper portion 7. positions the jaw members outward or laterally of the plane of said upper portion, so that the latter may come alongside the tube. It is therefore not necessary to apply the tool to the upper extremity of the tube,

but. it may be applied to the latter any distance lower down to preclude the possibility of slipping off. The weight of the tube tends to swing the jaw members in a directionto carry the serrated gripping surfaces downward and closer together, and the greater the pull on the tube the greater will 2e the grip exerted thereon by the aw memers.

To the upper end of the shank is connected a chain 18 or other suitable suspension means for connecting the tool to the hoisting mechanism.

I claim:

A grappling tool comprising a shank having a lateral bend intermediate its ends to offset its lower end portion rearwardly from the upper portion, a horizontally positioned yoke carried by the lower end of the shank,

oppositely positioned pivoted'jaw members carried by the yoke branches, and having curved and serrated gripping surfaces eccentric to the pivots of the jaw members, and a spring connected at its ends to the jaw members and passing intermediate its ends around the aforesaid bend of the shank and anchored thereto, said spring tending to swing the jaw members in a direction to bring the gripping surfaces toward each 10 other. 7

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LEVI SCARBROUGH. 

